b'Lessons Learned in TurfgrassHow collaboration, adaptability, technology and communication advance research. Kristi CoxTURF IS A RELATIVELYsmallThirteen years later, the same group environmentally important to establish subsection of the larger seed indus- now including the University of Californiaturfgrass cultivars that require less water. try. Though turf covers a very significantRiverside and the USDA applied forThat is the overarching goal of the pro-number of acres across the worldwide, itsand successfully secured a third round ofject, though the project breaks down into perennial nature means the turf marketfunding for an extended project throughmany smaller, specific research compo-is significantly smaller than comparableto August 2024. The initial focus was onnents. acreage crops like corn. While turf mightbreeding new cultivars with improvedFrom the outset, the team has involved not have the same research investmentsdrought and salinity tolerance. Today theplant breeders, geneticists, physiologists, as other crops, there is a lot the ag indus- project includes the same priorities, butextension specialists and socio-econo-try can learn from turf research.is including focuses on technology andmists. The parties all work together as In 2010, Texas A&M, the Universityoutreach.equals, and rotate the lead to a different of Florida, University of Georgia, NorthThe project is noteworthy in manyuniversity for each grant application. The Carolina State University, and Oklahomarespects, but especially for four key take- leads collaborate with all other parties to State University collaborated to suc- aways that cross crop boundaries.establish what the grant will encompass cessfully apply for and receive the firstto try to incorporate all ideas.Specialty Crop Research InitiativeTake-Away #1: It Pays to Collaborate The researchers work with four spe-grant funding from the United StatesAs we see longer drought periods andcies of turfgrass, and most of the species Department of Agriculture (USDA) tolarger regions of the country face limitedhave more than one breeder working study drought tolerance in turfgrass.access to water, it is economically andon them at a time. The team shares Use of drones advances the data collected, fine tuning the analysis of plots under drought conditions. PHOTO: SUSANA MILLA-LEWIS, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY36/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2023'